U.S. Military Engagement: 2009 in Review

December 1, 2010

Just over a year after the November 2008 assessment by the U.S. Navy,
U.S. Marines, and U.S. Coast Guard designed to determine the
desirability and feasibility of future U.S. military and security
commitments in Timor-Leste, our engagement continues to strengthen
steadily. The fundamental objective of our interaction is a stable
Timor-Leste better able to provide for its own defense and capable of
contributing positively to regional security.

This year our efforts have had two focal points. First, we have sought
to increase our engagement with the key security institutions, notably
the military, police and civilian institutions such as the Dili port
authority, to raise their technical, leadership and organizational
capabilities. To these ends, we have established a detachment of Seabees
in Timor-Leste plus coordinated a large scale exercise by the U.S.
Marines. Second, we have sought to engage the civilian authorities,
including the government, the national parliament, and Timorese civil
society to reform and complete the legal infrastructure governing the
security sector. For example, we continued to facilitate the development
of Timor Leste’s first National Security Policy. Senior Timorese
government representatives attended a security sector development
workshop at the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies where they
worked toward completing a draft policy statement.

The following articles provide a brief snapshot of the recent
U.S. military activities that have supported the development of
Timor-Leste’s security sector. These articles also discuss recent
changes in Timorese priorities and suggest how we might best support
them.

Embassy Dili encourages and is ready to support the further
deepening of U.S. military engagement with the objective of improving
Timor-Leste’s stability and security, including the professionalization
of the Timorese military. As Timor-Leste’s government works to complete a
national security policy and develop a national maritime authority and
strategy, timely and focused U.S. support to these efforts will have a
profound positive impact. We also support the provision of legal
advisors to the Timorese civilian leadership and the defense force, and
completion of a bilateral MOU in the near term as an expression of the
United States longer term commitment to Timor-Leste’s stability and
security.